Club Arnage

Shortly after the worlds greatest motor race last year there was considerable debate with regard to Radio Le Mans. A huge amount of that debate was really constructive. The thread certainly served to demonstrate just how passionately everybody felt about the station and what an important part it was to the very fabric of the event. It also highlighted some potential concerns, namely the lack of succinct update information and a tendency to concentrate on providing entertainment to those not lucky enough to be at the event at the expense of track commentary. At the risk of being banished for life from this fine site, I thought it might be worth raising the subject again just to bring it ‘front of mind’ as we all move into the ‘its nearly time to pack the tent mode’

So my wish then and now is:

Hourly - to the point, non interrupted non ramble updates that tell us the top five cars of each category, and the distance they are away from their nearest rival. I.e. ‘In LMP2, first place is car number 14 which is one lap ahead of car number 15 which is 30 seconds ahead of…’…..etc etc.  Not great radio I know, but brilliant for catching up when you have been away from the circuit for an hour or two.
 :D

I completely agree with you Monkey.

All fine by me, as long as they keep using She Sells Sanctuary as opening tune for the updates! 8)

Agreed, although I fell asleep listening to this on a continuous loop all night on the Friday night last year - I had some weird dreams that night, I can tell you!

I agree with the sentiments.. they used to be much more informative in the late 80's than they are now.. you never seemed to be able to find out what was going on..and they used to be the perfik hosts with the plonk too.. plenty of sore heads after a radio LM session!!

Hmm, maybe you want to lend my i-pod. I have about 27 CDs of the Cult on that.

Sweet dreams ;D

Trouble with only announcing the top 5 in each class is that if your favourite car or team isn’t in the top 5 you won’t have a clue what is going on!  And a lot of us follow the smaller teams.  With 55 starters you are immediately ignoring 35 cars! More than half the field, I know that they won’t all survive the full distance, but for the first few hours at least they will get ignored.  The top 5 in LMP1 is going to be the 3 Audi’s and Two Pugs (Until 1 or more hits trouble), so if like me you are a Rollcentre fan then you won’t know where they are unless you can get to a timing screen.

Personally I’d rather see a full rundown of each class but at different times,  say on the hour for LMP1, ¼ past the hour for LMP2, ½ past the hour for GT1 and ¼ to the hour for GT2, that way everything gets covered and if you are interested in a team then you know what time to tune in and listen (presupposing you’re not listening for the full 24hrs that is!)

I've got all of last years broadcast as MP3, and have listened to it 3 or 4 times in the last year.

The coverage was great, don't get me wrong, but I think GeoffD's idea is a viable good one. There was a little bit of a tendency last year to get 'sidetracked' a little bit from time to time.

But it's got to be better than the excitable local on day release who gets let loose with a microphone during the race. TOOOOM KRISTIEENNSSSEEEENNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That sounds like a good idea...

I think above posts show clearly what many people (including me) have missed last year and it looks like everybody has missed the same thing: Clear reports about the current positions.

I would vote for a full hourly run-down of all positions. Without any chitchat it shouldn't take longer than 5-6 minutes, even less time at the end of the race ;D

I recently e-mailed Hindy after Sebring. I told him that I was really impressed with the coverage from there as this was exactly what was done : proper (every 20 mins or so) runs-down on the leader board. It was invaluable there as the public information system away from the main drag was non-existant.  He replied and it seems that last year's comments actually have been taken on board judging by what the same team did in the US.  Let's hope so.  His commentary on that final lap was pretty memorable too.  Good for them for not talking about the race winners when there was still such a battle going on in GT2.

Geoff, I agree with you entirely. I only mentioned the top five as I thought this would be a 'step in the right direction' if they could do the entire field, then even better.

At Sebring it was top 10 and top 3 in other classes (not exactly stressed in LMP1 or GT1 though, were they?).

Like many people I think the general coverage has moved away from the "Here to help those that have taken the Journey" to a "We'll take Le Mans to the world via the Internet" type of thing. 

As for the hourly updates well IMHO thats a tough one.   Personaly I get very frustrated by the format of that.  I hear it as a sort of.

In the lead is Car X of team Y driven by Any body, A.N. Other and Someone Else.  A.N. Other is currently driving.  In the last hour the car has had problems and is using oil and is also haveing gear box problems.
In second place is Car A of Team B driven by Rag, Tag and Bobtail.   Bobtail is in the car at the moment but is was been driven by Rag who did a double stint and has pull the car up from 5^th.

And so on.

I'd rather they did a   "First No X, Second No H, Third No A".  Then go on to tell us whats happend in the last hour.
I think I would find that easier to take in.

Of course we can't remember every number and driver for every car.  But for sure you know the nubers and drivers of the cars your following and their near rivals.   So just the Position and Car number would be great.   

To me the advantage of splitting the Run down of  positions from the what has happen in the last hour has teh advantage that some significant event happening lower down the order can be early in the list of happenings.

t.

I would add the  gap between the cars and then it could be done in a few  minutes

Anything close to what monkey and geoffd suggested would be a huge improvement on last year.

Keep the no added value banter out of the updates.

The placings rundown should be exactly that, all the additional bits of interesting info can fill the time between the rundowns.

As usual all good points of view. Hope Hindy is reading along. Oh and if we MUSt have Ads at least a variety please.
Phil

Quite agree - As well as the position run downs, in the era of "help to those that have made the journey" the commentary was decidedly spicier, fruitier, open and honest than of late, probably because the broadcast was local to the circuit.  Particularly memorable years were the "Radio Le Mans sponsored by Jiffy condoms" year, the Andy Wallace year (when the enthusiastic pitlane lady thrust the microphone in front of him as he finished the first stint and, on asking "how was it for you" he replied "it's the biggest poiece of sh*t that I've driven".  More recently, there was the year that the football was on and we were treated to the simultaneous (and very good!) commentary of both the race and the england match.   It all really felt like Radio Le Mans was there as an integral part of the British contribution to the event, not just as english media coverage of it. 

We all appreciate the huge effort that goes into getting Radio Le Mans off the ground every year, but please, please, let's get more personality back into it - and Hindy has bags of that!

MG Mark

I think the updates are a great idea and then more discussion based material in between about the problems being encountered by different teams .
I would much prefer to hear a team manager / engineer etc. talking in a bit of detail about a problem they had previously than guess work as to whats happened.
Yeas by all means tell us car no. has been pulled into the pits or spun out, but when the problem is completely unknown do we need time wasted guessing the problem??

(http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/8127/radiolmsk2.jpg)

I know its difficult finding 24 hours of material, stuck in a portacabin in the village, but some of this does sink to a low level, and I'm not taking about the middle of the night.  Interviews would be good.

I would prefer more results/updates, say at 15 minute intervals, as at LM you can wander off for a couple of hours, and its good to catch up quickly. And I don't care if its not official.

And please don't refer to a car by just the drivers name, as once you're out of the top 10 it means nothing - this is an awful problem with ALMS and Speed Channel, but must be from Nascar, where with 30 Chevys and 20 Fords on the grid, the drivers name is far more important, but strangely there is little mention of the entrant

And please don't refer to a car by just the drivers name, as once you're out of the top 10 it means nothing -
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I could not agree with you more! It is really frustrating when this happens, entry model and number, position and place in relation to the car in front that is all we need in the update. :D

Just spent last weekend on the Airfield at Carlisle servicing for the Historic crews on the Pirelli international Rally. The organisers kindly put out Globecast Radio on the PA system (they were also broadcasting from Carlisle, which must have been strange for our chums over the water). We had Hindy and Co. giving us updates of Quals at Houston all night- made us Le mansers present feel all of a glow inside ;D

Not sure if its the same team as LM but it had a better balance between waffle/stats/and music.

Its quite alarming to hear that the Salo/Melo Ferarri has just gone fastest in GT2 followed with the news that car 156 in the Pirelli (our car) is reported to be on fire in the stage! :'(

Termie sent a private email to John Hindhaugh of RLM re. this thread and Radio Le Mans 2007.

With permission, here's her email -



Hi there
Just to let you know that the discussion has started again re your 2007 coverage. http://www.clubarnage.com/forum/index.php?topic=6940.0

I don't know if you'd like to respond as personally, I think the Sebring coverage reflects the fact that you took on board quite a lot of what was said last year.

I'll try my best to come and say hi in June.  Not long now...

All the best
Deb

.... and here's Hindy's email reply



Hey Deb;

Sorry just picked this up. I went straight from Houston to the Nordschleife for some testing, heading home today.

I have to be honest and say that I sometimes wonder what people are listening to - there are still people talking about adverts and we actually didn’t have any last year! Also we had two interviewers in the pits at all times so there was always plenty of comment from the teams/drivers/engineers....

As for general content, in the "Good Old Days" the service was not run in any kind of professional way - I know I was part of it then too - and in fact the station nearly went away due to continued violation of French Radio regulations - The Jiffy sponsorship of the news is a perfect example, you are not allowed to sponsor news bulletins like that.

People also forget that in the early years we only had one radio mic that worked for about an hour at a time then took 45 mins to recharge, that we went off the air all together during the overnight hours during the week, and that we played music during the race to fill time in the middle of the night. Also as there was no TV we couldn’t "see" what was going on so if a car disappeared we had no idea where it had stopped...

Of course that is in the past now but since Haymarket abandoned the station after the 2005 race there is no big company willing to underwrite the service. Given that it is now me personally that bears the burden of paying ACO's large licence fees and the running costs, I cannot risk any sanction from the authorities. Having said that I think that we produce, technically and editorially, a much better, more professional and more informed service now than we have ever done, I accept that some people disagree but I am convinced that they are remembering with "rose tinted headphones..."

However we are making some changes this year that will affect - positively - the way that the updates are done. Effectively the updates will become a news bulletin with the field summary put in context with headlines, stories from the last few hours and clips from interviews.

Unfortunately the costs have gone up again, and despite the continued success of the station it’s getting harder to cover costs. The only way we can do this is to have sponsors and to reach the biggest audience possible. Simply put the Internet and latterly, the satellite audience, is what enables Radio Le Mans to continue.

I am pleased that so many people feel enough of a part of Radio Le Mans to want to comment - we can’t ever please every one I accept that - I just hope people understand that we  have mad a huge commitment to this station and that we are always working (without any gain) to ensure the future of the station.

Regards

John H

Thanks Steve.

I am not sure what to make of that to be honest.

As I mentioned in my opening post, RLM is part of the fabric of this great event and I believe it will be as long as it continues to broadcast.

When this was debated last year I thought that there was an acceptance that there would be value in providing the race goer with succinct updates on a regular basis given that in recent years they have tended to 'ramble' somewhat.

Judging from the comments that have been made in this thread, there seems to be a consensus that continues to support the idea that this approach would be beneficial and very welcome.

I have no right to make any demands and would not dream of doing so, but feel that as a race goer this service would be valuable and much appreciated - it would seem that there are others that feel the same.

All I can say is that I hope that those at RLM consider this request and feel it is worthy of implimenting

Well, it was good of Hindy to make a comment on our comments!  Not sure if I agree with his comment about no adverts last year, but I suppose playing the sponsors jingles doesn't count as advertising????

I guess the reality is that some sort of advertising/sponsorship is needed to pay for the service, so we must accept it, it doesn't bother me that much anyway.

If the revised race info segment is as good as it could be and covers all of the field, then most of us would be happy I would have thought, I know that I only listen to RLM to find out what is going on in the race, especially if I have been away from the track for a while, and want to catch up on whats happening to my fave teams/cars/drivers.

OK time for me to add my twopenneth worth...

I wonder whether Hindy is still feeling a little raw from last year's thread as I think he has missed the point of the current set of correspondence somewhat.

Last year the debate on this site identified some areas of the RLM offering that some felt were either not quite as they used to be or not quite as they should be.  At times the debate did become heated but was always meant to be a constructive one.  On the whole I think it was.

I hear what Hindy is saying about the huge commitment that he personally, and his colleagues and associates at RLM, give to the station.  I am sure we do all appreciate that.  I know I do  - even though I was perhaps one of the more vociferous voices in last year's thread.

RLM is part of the fabric of the event and long may it continue to be so.

As far as I can see all that we are asking in the current thread is that the positive elements from last year's debate be acted upon in a way that can give an improved service to the trackside listener.  The fact that in the early days the service was "not run in any professional way" is of little relevance to today's listener.  The really important factor is that it sounded great and represented a giant leap forward to the trackside spectator in terms of accessing race information.

As for those rose tinted headphones that Hindy refers to... here I disagree.  The service may be "...technically and editorially, a much better, more professional and more informed service now..." but from the perspective of those of us who listen from a trackside position it does not deliver as we need it to.

The listening environment is a difficult one - noise, variable reception and so on.  These factors are what make it important for regular race updates to be in a consistent delivery style.

I sincerely hope that what we wrote last year, and again are writing now, is taken account of.  Hindy's description of the bulletins effectively becoming "... a news bulletin with the field summary put in context with headlines, stories from the last few hours and clips from interviews." sounds exactly the same as it was last year.  We don't want that stuff during the regular bulletins because it is just this sort of content that causes the presenters to start rambling off-topic (something we know a lot about on the CA forum!).  I am NOT saying that this sort of content should not be broadcast, but please NOT during the updates...

If Hindy's comment that "Simply put the Internet and latterly, the satellite audience, is what enables Radio Le Mans to continue" is true - and he obviously knows far better than I - then maybe the service should become known as Le Mans Online (or something).  That way the trackside spectators would know that the service is no longer aimed at us and we would have to accept the broadcast format as it is and take out from it any nugget of information that we can in the knowledge that, unfortunately, our requirements are not directly catered for anymore.

The way I read Hindy's e-mail re the "news bulletin" bit o/t, suggests to me that it will be pre-prepared (this will have to be the case if clips from interviews will be included) and will prevent the scenario you describe -ie, it will be un-interuptable (if that's a word).

As I said above (a long time ago) I did feel that the coverage at Sebring was a vast improvement, with regard to regular up-dates.  But you want to be very grateful that the ads won't make their way across the Atlantic!

I think the consensus is requesting that the updates are cut to the bare minimum - 'Car number 14 is fourth, 1 lap ahead of car number 12 which is fifth and 30 seconds ahead of etc etc' through the field, nothing more or less than that. If that was provided on a regular basis, same time every hour, then that would be brilliant - 'news bulletins' sounds like what we had last year which is not easy to follow trackside I'm afraid. Well near impossible actually.

Well actually, monkey I completely agree with you and suggested this to Hindy after last year's race.  His response was to tell me that he'd had equal numbers of people suggeting that numbers were not sufficient!  What was it honest Abe said...?

I think part of the problem with RLM is that the Brits listening to it at the circuit don't realise how it is funded, and indeed those of us posting here probably have no idea of the cost of running it.

But perhaps Club Arnage either on its own, hmmm I was going to say or with Pistonheads (but guess who owns them!), could consider looking to sponsor the hourly or bi-hourly update?  At least one could ask Hindy for the cost and then see who was willing to give some money towards it?  Might be outside our budget but could be worth doing.  Might even be worth asking the big ticket agencies for a donation!

After all without RLM the Le Mans experience would be greatly inferior.

Termi - you have me at a disadvantage as I have no contact with the great man himself. However I can't help thinking that if we were to run a pole here and now among those attending the race we would find that the ‘ car number, position, distance,’ approach, on a regular (hourly) basis would win hands down. I base this theory on the evidence of the opinions clearly expressed in this thread alone. It would still leave the presenters with about 55 minutes in the hour to do ‘proper’ radio to those not fortunate enough to be attending.

Sorry Chris I fail to see what relevance this has to RLM providing concise updates to the trackside listener. Surely on the evidence of this thread it is only likely to increase the number of listeners thus making it more commercially viable?

I find it very hard to believe that he has received such comments... who would have made them?

I can just imagine the scenario now...

"Hi Hindy, found the bulletins hard to follow, but what ever you do don't revert to just giving us the race order"

OR

"Hi Hindy, the bulletins were good, make sure you don't change them so that all you do is read out the race numbers"

People generally mention things they don't like and suggest ways to change them rather than mentioning things they do like.

 ???

How about - position - car number - team and make - distance for the first -then the same but in distance behind leader or class leader.

I agree that its fustrating that while doing the run down they seem to get side tracked and before you know it they have moved onto the next item.

The idea of pre recording it based on the hourly results and playing it at say quarter past would, imho work. It would also give the presenters a couple of mins break.

While it may seem like we a knocking the RLM crew, I don't think it would be possible to be futher from the truth. I like many others can recal gathering around the tannoy at a set time to hear a monotone rundown of the order ever hour, RLM changed all that and brought an exciting new and informative format to the track that we have enjoyed since.

So 'long live RLM', the race would not be the same without you, but maybe take on board some of the creative suggestions offered.

With you all the way Nordic on your suggestion and the sentiment about RLM

Yes me too I agree........

Hindy is a member here, so it's as easy for any of you to pm him as it is for me!  The reason I got the e-mail was that I suggested he look in on this thread to see what our opinions were, and maybe he'd find the feedback useful.  Hence he replied to me and Steve kindly added the quote.  Rather than getting the poor guy to type it all out again, I thought that was the quickest way to pass on his comments.  My point being, monkey, why not e-mail or pm him and put your comments direct (although hopefully he'll be monitoring this now.)  He's seemed pretty receptive to ideas to me.

I hear what you are saying Termie, but this is a forum and I think that open debate, rather than PMs to Hindy, will give a better feel to all of what the consensus is on the subject and, of course, give evverybody the chance to join the debate.

I hear what you are saying Termie, but this is a forum and I think that open debate, rather than PMs to Hindy, will give a better feel to all of what the consensus is on the subject and, of course, give evverybody the chance to join the debate.
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I agree with you oldtimer. I don't want to hassle Hindy, I am sure he has more important things to do, I am just having a debate, and I hope a constructive one at that......

True.  I only suggested to him that he look at this thread, which he did.  I guess he replied to me as I'd e-mailed him?  Maybe you'd like to lobby him to post on here again?

Well having read Hindys reply and some of the comments on it.

I've not seen are any real numbers.   How many people listen "at the circuit".  How many listen "at home".   How much cash do they raise from each of those two groups.

It's RLMs bat and ball so they can please themselves which audience they want to target and how best to please that audience to maximise the revenue.

Now it's quite understandable that they can't do some things any more.  I'm sure that the odd interview with a Slightly Oiled Spectator who lets go with the F-word gives them the odd headache too.  For sure they need to stay inside the regs or risk losing the licence.

He says RLM was not proffesional in the begining.  Well I think that was one of the things that made it so good. 

Yes I think we do probably remember the early years with Rose tinted headphones.    Over the years there have been some priceless moments.   But none of them were scripted or at least that's how it seemed.   

I suppose for those of us that make the trip it's so much more than a Motor Race.   If I couldn't go for any reason
I would be glued to RLM.  But I'd want to know what was going on off track as well as on. 

t.

Well generally the one paying the piper calls the tune.  So if someone was sponsoring the hourly update thay could presumably say that we would like it  pre-recorded and to consist of car number driver and position or whatever.

That was the point I was trying to make ....badly!

Wonderful debate. Reminds me I have to go and buy a better radio for this year 8)
Phil

More importantly remember to buy the batteries for it!  And at least one set of spares!

Absolutely - you do not want to get 'les piles' at Le Mans... not a good thing  ;)

Painful, and very expensive at the circuit!

I for one am v.grateful and very pleasantly surprised to see that the man himself, who makes it all happen, has taken the time and trouble to read and respond to the thread.  There is a much clearer understanding of the various constraints within which he has to operate, and of his personal altruism in keeping the whole thing going each year.  Rose-tinted spectacles are wonderful things, and the memories they evoke will always be there, and changes imposed by the present day are well understood too by most. 

Just please keep the clarity of information and the humour (within bounds) for the racegoer, whether there or listening because they are unable to be there.   

MG Mark   

Hello everyone and thanks for the constructive comments.

As was said after the race last year we have taken the comments of all and we will try to incorporate them into the broadcast this year.

Just to answer a few specific points;

We experimented with numbers only update some years ago and were soundly ripped for it, given the nosiy environment it's too easy to miss the vital information (the number) whereas if the number, car and driver are being mentioned there are effectively three opportunities to identify the entry. Also most people have told us that car numbers alone mean nothing to them as they don't carry a programme. We have already commited to an uniterrupted rundown segment - just don't be complaining when a car goes up in flames as we start it and then we wait 3 mins to mention it! Actually I don't have a problem with that, it's always the case at Le Mans that over 90% of your audience can't see what you are talking about anyway. (They are at home or on different part of track) The car will either still be burning or will be put out when we get to it. Regardless we can still talk about what has happened! One of the many advantages of radio over TV who seem to feel the need to try and cut to everything as it happens...

The ratio of listeners at the track to listeners away from the track is over 10-1 in favour of those not at the track. Interestingly as many UK-based listeners now tune in via Sky satellite as use the Internet link. That's just under half a million UK listeners in total during the week. The bulk of the race week Internet audience (over 1.4 million visited the frontpage of the website and slightly more accessed the webstream as some went to it directly) are from the USA (over 70%) with the UK, Denmark, Japan and Australia making up the Internet top five.

In order to service the TK and Jan fans we have been asked to provide a Danish langauge update every hour. This is being sponsored by Danish companies. It will be about a maximum of 90 seconds per hour.

It's an unfortunate fact of life that the rising costs of staging the radio station - remember it's those costs that pushed publishing giant Haymarket to abandon the service in 2005 - can only be met by increasing the audience which broadly speaking means those away from the circuit as the on-track numbers are relatively consistant each year.

It's also true that while many of us would love to be able to have a similar type of broadcast as in the late 80s and early 90s the bulk of the audience does not remember those days and infact they demand a very much more sophisticated production as the proliferation of slicker sports broadcasts on TV and radio has raised the expectations of our listeners.

Radio Le Mans is run on commercial terms, and therefore sposnors require us to be professional and represent their brand values. We just wouldn't get the required financial support if we let standards slipand ended up sounding like a buch of amateurs. Of course regulations play a big part on advertising, format and content. We have to satisfy several different regulators who legislate across the platforms on which we broadcast and as we are available in so many different territories (103 last year) we have to be mindful of national guidelines too.

Radio Le Mans has evolved since it's early years, no doubt it will continue to do so. Unfortunately this process will not suit everyone and sadly I'm sure that we will leave some people behind. However it's very important that I make clear that now that our group hold the rights, certain essential precepts, some of which were discarded or under threat under previous administations, will be applied.

*Radio Le Mans will provide full race coverage, whenever the cars are on track

*Within the normal broadcasting boundaries of truth, decency and legality, Radio Le Mans will not accept editorial control or pressure for any reason or from any source

*Radio Le Mans will remain free-to-air to our listeners at the track and via the mediums on which we currently broadcast

Sorry this has been slightly longer than I intended... funny how that happens. I'll close with this;

Radio Le Mans was started by a group of dedicated enthusiasts. Big business stepped in and in fairness ensured the continuation of the service through some very lean years in the mid 1990s. However when time got tough again and RLM was no longer a profit centre it has been left to (some of the same) enthusiasts to ensure the survival of the station.

I'd like to thank all of you for your support - for this debate and your comments, whether good bad or indifferent. The fact that RLM can ignite this level of passion form the sporstcar community is one of the examples I use to prove to potential sponsors that the service is still relevant.

Kind regards to all

John Hindhaugh
On behalf of the team at Radio Le Mans

And by the way please rememebr that the Radio Le Mans shop will be selling radios - for those who forgot, some spiffy raciing gear - Would CA like to sell some t-shirts there?

However the biggest thing you can do to help RLM is to let our sponsors know how much you appreciate their support of the station. use the web links, enter the competitions, let them know that you view their ther products more favourably because of their association with RLM...
Every little helps...

JH

Thank you for taking the trouble to post.

I am sure that I speak for most when I say Le Mans would not be the same without you.

I hope, and I am sure you will, take on board the comments posted and hopefully your broadcasts will be even more informative this year

Good luck for 2007.

It is really good of you to take the time not just to respond to our ramblings, but to do so in such detail. As I have mentioned a number of times, RLM is part of the fabric of the Worlds Greatest Motor race, and I believe as long as it transmits, it will remain so.

I look forward very much to tuning in again this year and feel the service (and entertainment) you provide will be more valuable to us than ever with the updates that you suggest above.

As for your comments following regarding the sponsors and requesting our support, that is a given from Team Monkey, are you able to let us know who they are now? If you are then I can start hitting their websites straight away, and would be very happy to do so ;D

Good luck for 2007 and the future

Monkey (Simon)

You have let us know what we can do to support and we'll do it.  In spadefulls.  Buying RLM radios and hitting the website/sponsor's links is the least we can do.  Moreover, there is a wealth of generally unco-ordinated and varied talents amongst the regulars on CA and out at La Sarther, so if there's anything else that is needed, just shout and someone can probably help.
 
MG Mark

"Dear Sir, I 'd like you to know that we all use Jiffy condoms exclusively because of Radio Le Mans"....sorry, just couldn't resist that one, it was such a vintage year....

Thanks for the response Hindy.  I think we're all trying to give some feedback, although some it may appear more destructive than constructive. People expect a lot nowadays.

I'm sure that this year will be better than ever.  And remember, we'd be lost without you.

You must be the only bloke at Le Mans that never has to buy a beer ;D

In spite of the odd complaint, I think we all would miss RLM very much if it weren't about, even if we don't listen in the whole time (we have the 'poo bar to visit etc!).  It's great that Hindy feels he should take the time to put his side of the thing in person.  Good on you, I say.  Websites will be visited asap as requested.  :)

I would like to to echo the sentiments of those who have posted since your reply by thanking you for taking the trouble to do so - well done.

I will continue to listen to RLM with interest but do feel sad that those being left behind are those for whom the station was, I assume, originally set-up - the trackside spectators.

Armed with the figures you have provided in your detailed response to our debate, I accept that RLM is run on commercial terms and its direction will, inevitably, be dictated by the wants and needs of those commercial partners.  Similarly I understand that you will tailor your broadcast to the majority audience.  Unfortunately, for me at least, the advent of internet and satellite broadcasting means that the majority is no longer in that certain part of France we all know and love so much.

Thank you for all that you and your colleagues have done over the years for the event and good luck with RLM in the future.

One final request though...  We may be now the minority of your audience but please do not completely forget the needs of the sun-burnt masses in the tribunes and out in the country down Mulsanne and Arnage way.

Oh yes, one final, final thing.  Are you absolutely sure you had a respresentative sample when asking about the number or name thing?  Surely without a programme to hand it is easier for the spectator to spot a number on a the side of a car than a driver's name.  (Sorry my market research background has started to come to the fore.  I will go now)

Thanks for the detailed response Hindy.

I wonder what Radios you are doing this year, but it would be better if they either had a ditial dial, or self-seek the station.  I got some like these http://www.yesgifts.co.uk/Saturn-Auto-Scan-Radios.html for a website I run.

Have used them at Le Mans for 2 years now and they work well, although there is no dial so you don't know which station they are initially tuned into.  But as they self seek the station they obtain and hold the signal better.  Depending on budget there might be a better version available.

I note that Hindy asks about selling CA T-shirts, which is not particularly easy for us, but I do find it difficult to get nice T-Shirts at Le Mans or even a nice sweatshirt or similar.  Especially in the cooler years! 

Polite cough......see http://www.clubarnage.com/forum/index.php?topic=6502.msg85169#msg85169


Del

I happen to have a RLM grey polo shirt - with a little red/blue line drawing of a car, circa ......umm..... possibly even late 20th century!!!

Should be good for a while yet tho (which is not to say I will miss a shopping opportunity). Top quality of course :)

F

(I also have a Toyota GT One t-shirt brand new in the bag from around the same time, its a bit "snug" tho!)

I appreciate a little more than just the number, my poor old brain cells have trouble memorizing a list of 55 entrants, especially with the weeks alcohol consumption having it's effect. :)

I always have a notebook and pen and write down the numbers then look them up again afterwards.  We Saga types need to be resourceful to compensate for memory loss.

Trouble is I'd lose the notebook.

You can get a little basket to go on the front of your zimmer frame Barry and keep your notebook, several pairs of spectacles (and a selection of dust covered boiled sweets) in there .

You mean you've found my zimmer frame? ;)

Cheeky!!!  I assumed that was why you had to move to MB, cos you arent up to the walk from Bleu!!! 

 8)

On that note, its Friday 5 pm and I am off to the pub!

I thought they were sold out!  Wasn't alert earlier enough in the year!  Have several from previous years.

Many thanks for your response John.

First class job as always.

Here's a link to the RLM website - http://www.radiolemans.com/ (http://www.radiolemans.com/)

For me, the weekend would not be the same without RLM. It is what makes the event special. A big thank you to all who are involved.

On the subject of race bullitins, I am not going to try and tell the radio professionals how to do thier job, but I would just ask that when you start a rundown, you finish it.  Nothing more fustrating than waiting to hear about your lower order team, and realising after 10 minutes that the presenters are not going to return to the rundown.

RLM is a great effort. I will be clicking the sponsors adverts as soon as they appear.

HTB!

I enjoyed listening to RLM when I attended in 2004 and the only problem I had was when the cars went by it got difficult to hear my own radio (must get earphones). Now I listen to it all week long on the web while I am at work (during ALMS/ 24 LM).  I feel as if my shop is just down the road and after work I can drive to the circuit and party with DFM/ CA. I love it especially during qualifying! I miss Holly though. :'(

OK my contribution...

Firstly, Hello Hindy - that's for coming to contribute, it is very much appreciated.

I possibly fall into a different category to a lot of you guys.  Given my usual role at race meetings I'm quite used to not knowing what is going on out on track and it doesn't really bother me.  I LOVE RLM and I especially love the banter and the chatting which is probably the stuff that pisses off the more "academic" race fans (I mean that nicely!).   

I do like to hear an update though and I like to know when I can hear it so if I've been away from the radio I can tune to to catch up - I do like to hear about the whole field so that I know where some of the "also rans" who I often know are running. 

I like the service as it is but then I'm a Radio 2 listener and I like the chat and the banter and the atmosphere stuff.

You guys do a fab job and we'd be lost without you (anyone ever done the Spa 24?  The commentator is very excitable but you'd be pushed to know what is going on (changed now as I think Addison does some updates))

Can we sponsor RLM in anyway?  Personally the service means so much to me, that I'd happily contribute and I'm sure that lots of other people would too.  Clearly we can click the sponsors ads but perhaps there is some scope for something a little more direct?

Guys - can we add anything about the sponsors links to the CA Guide?  Perhaps in the content of the guide and/or on the download page?    I think we're heading for a huge audience for the Guide and might be able to help a little. 

One last point - please mention me when I text in - you never do  :'(   I know you might get quite a lot of texts but if you'd just keep a special look out for me that would be fab  ;D

Piglet

PS - I miss Neville Hay - any chance of a spot from him again?

I have just read on 10/10ths that RLM, once again will not be covering the support race. >:(

I think that is a huge shame and I really cannot think of anything more important than to cover what is going happeing on the track. I am sure it would also be relevant to the internet listeners.

This year RLM will be all I've got, and I'm grateful that they exist.

I've listened to last years LM coverage a couple of times since, and, although it has its faults, it's really very good indeed.

I am attending for the first time since 2002, and I admit I wouldnt have a clue what was going on without RLM, and I quite enjoy the rambling nature of the commentary?

No Autosport supplememt this year? Anybody know why?

Dirk. Just joined today.

Coz CA did it better!!!

Keep your ears tuned to RLM on Thursday lunchtime (probably some time between 12.00 and 14.00) for the sound ofMr Chenet extolling the virtues of Club Arnage! :)

Autosport supplement is apparently coming out next week, not that it is anything like as good as it used to be.

However I agree that Le Mans would be impossible to follow without RLM

Can someone record this so I can hear it later coz I will be en route?

and post it as a soundbite ;D

RLM has an Audio Archive on their website, I think we'll be able to download their LM 2007 report after the race there

That Hindy's a brave man. Does'nt he know that every time JPC gets behind a microphone it always leads to Mustang Sally? ::)